Chapter One

The beginning of the story of Rebecca

I sat bolt upright in bed, wide eyes staring in the darkness. Was that laughter I'd just heard? No, it couldn't have been. My father and I were the only ones out here""right? I began to feel a sense of doubt.

[i] “I'm sure you'll love our new house,” my father said. We'd left the city hours ago; I wasn't sad to leave. It was actually a relief, a big weight off my shoulders. I wouldn't be reminded of my mother everywhere I went; I wouldn't have to walk past the alley where she was murdered every day....

“There's no neighbors for miles around; we're entirely secluded. And there's a corn field in the back, a walk about five minutes from the back door. There's an indoor pool, and a hot tub. Your room is much bigger than your old room in our tiny apartment.”
“That's great, dad,” I said. “Could you""not five too much away?”

He smiled, mistaking my need for silence for enthusiasm for the move.

Like I said, it was nice to get away from the big city. But knowing that I'd being entirely alone out here? It was a little bit daunting. I was so used to living around hundreds of people, and now I was leaving all of that to live entirely alone, just me and my dad.

“Come on, Rebecca.”
I looked up from my knees and saw that my father had gotten out of the car and was already holding boxes to carry inside.

“Come look around the house.”

I nodded and silently climbed out of the car, grabbing my back pack as I slid down from the truck. I looked around me, noting the corn field in the distance behind the house and making a metal note to check it out later.

“Help me with these boxes, will you? Your stuff's just here. You can go find your room and put it there.” I nodded again and took a box of books from the back of the truck. [/i]

Before I could wake myself up enough to think clearly, I was sliding out of bed and walking towards my window. I placed my hands on the sill and leaned forward, peering out into the night lit only by stars.

Everything seemed normal. Almost too normal...

I shook my head, pulling back from the window. I gave one last look outside before pulling the curtains closed and going back to bed.

“Good morning,” dad said as I walked into the kitchen the next morning.

I just waved and poured myself a bowl of Fruit Loops.

“I finally got the pool filter working last night.”
I felt myself smiling at that. “So I can go swimming today?” I asked, sitting down at the counter with him.

“You can do whatever you want today.”

I grinned, scarfing down my Fruit Loops so I could go swimming as soon as possible. I ran to my room and changed into my swimsuit, a black two-piece that my mother had picked out for me just a few hours before her murder....

I shuddered, shoving the memories of my mother to the back of my mind.

It took me a few minutes to remember where the pool was, but once I'd found it I was awestruck. It was a fairly large pool, about ten meters long and five wide. The depth markings went from four feet to twelve feet.

I put my towel on a nearby chair and walked over to the deep end of the pool. I dove in, opening my eyes to watch the bubbles floating up around me, feeling at peace at last.